Dusty May took over the Michigan Wolverines head coaching duties in 2024. Making Michigan one of the title contenders was a big task at the time because they were struggling when he joined the program.
The Wolverines didn’t even make it to the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and 2024. May knew he had to bring in new players and add more depth to the roster for Michigan to be a strong team again. One of the biggest names he brought in was Elliot Cadeau.
Cadeau had started his college basketball career with the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2023. In his first season with the Wolverines, Cadeau averaged 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists while shooting nearly 41% from the field and 38% from the three-point line.
In the National Championship game against the UConn Huskies, Cadeau scored 19 points, shooting 5 of 11 from the field, with three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. He was the game’s highest scorer and played a key role in bringing Michigan its second NCAA title.
At the post-game press conference, May was asked about Cadeau and what he saw in his first, which led him to believe he was capable of doing what he did tonight.
“We had seen him in prep ranks, and we had seen him in high school ranks, and we felt like we needed a pass-first quarterback on the floor all the time, and with Elliot, once we got him, we were able to sell him,” he said.
May revealed that Sean May, who is the current assistant coach at North Carolina, helped May in making that decision. The simple question that he asked Sean May was, “Would 17-18-year-old Sean May want to play with Elliot Cadeau?”
When Sean May gave him an “expletive yeah”, the Michigan coach knew that he had to bring him in.
Dusty May Heaped Praise on His Players
It was a hard-fought 69-63 win for the Michigan Wolverines. Even though they were in the lead throughout the game, the UConn Huskies didn’t allow them to increase the game. After winning the national title, May praised his players for finding a way to win against a tough team.
“If you had told me that we would be shooting this poorly, get dominated on the glass, and still found a way to win, I don’t know if I would have believed you. This team has just found a way all season. Love, trust, and respect among themselves,” he said.
Michigan is an NCAA title winner for the first time since 1989. This is their second title overall. Dusty May deserves all the praise for turning the program around in just two years and bringing another title to Michigan.
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